Folding crate.



. 1916. 1 ,240,463. Patented Sept. 18, 41917.

z SHEETS-suini.

f 'Il M. A. LONG.

FOLDING CRATE. AffPLlcATloNA F'ILED MAR. 20, 191e.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

2 SHEETS-.SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT omnes.

MINNIE ALBERTA LONG, OF LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA.

FOLDING CRATE.

,edout in the appended claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved crate that may be folded into a very compact form for convenience in shipping, when empty, while the sides and ends which are hinged to the base may be folded inwardly upon said base, and are provided with means for supporting the hinged top, when the crate is in its operative position as a crate.

The further object of my invention is to provide an improved crate which may be used as a trunk for shipping clothing, or as a coop for shipping poultry, or a receptacle for shipping vegetables, furniture, eggs and other articles.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my folding crate,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of same,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the crate in its folded position,

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the crate in its folded position, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the corners of the crate showing the manner of supporting the sides and ends in an upright position.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the bottom of the crate which may be formed of a solid piece of lumber or may be composed of a number of separate slats.

Extending across the bottom at both ends thereof are the strips 2 and 3.

To the ends of the strips 2 and 3 are connected the side strips 5 and 6 which extend along the edges of the bottom and connect the said end strips.

The sides of the crate in the present instance are formed of a number of folding sections 7 and 8, the lower ones of which are hinged at their lower edges to the strips 5 Speccation of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 18 191*7 Application filed March 20, 1916.

Serial No. 85,420.

` and G by means of common hinges 9 and the ltom 1 when the crate is folded.

VVhen the said ends are set up their upper edges rest against-a horizontal cross bar 13 which extends from one side section to the oppositeside section. Y.

The top 14 is hinged at one edge by means of screws 15 to the cross bars 13, which latter project` a distance above the adjacent `upper edges ofV said ends so thatwhen said top is closed,^ its upper surface will lie flush with the upper edges of the cross bars 13 and finish the appearance. Y

The numeral 16 indicates Va pivoted partition which is of greater length than one-half the length of the interior of the crate,l and is hinged near its lower edge by means of screws 17 to the opposite side strips 5 and 6 (said screws being mounted to slide in long slots) so that said partition may be folded downwardly and rest upon said bottom 1 when the crate is folded. When the said partition 16 is in a folded position, it acts as a support for the free inner ends of both of said pivoted ends 11, and thereby secures said ends in the same horizontal plane, at a distance above the bottom of the crate, and prevents them from rattling in the space between said bottom and said foldedsidesections. (See Fig. '3.)

When the said partition is set up its upper edge rests between two projections 18 and 19 which are in the present instance in the form of staples driven into the under surface of said top 111 to securely hold the said partition in upright position when the top is closed. Y

Similar projectionsin the form of staples 20 are driven into the under side of said top adjacent the ends of the latter to engage the upper edges of said ends 11 to hold the said ends in an upright position when the crate is set up, but which release said ends when the top is open.

At the ends of the top are sliding bolts 21 which engage apertures 22 formed in the said upper cross bars to lock said cover in a closed position. v

Said bolts are adapted to rock in their bearings after they have been shot into their respective apertures, so that the outer ends of said bolts will be turned downwardly below said apertures and engage the upper cross bars to retain said bolts in a locked position. 1

The numeral 23 indicates swinging hooks which are pivotally attached at their upper ends to the cross bars 13 and which engage staples 24 on the exterior of said ends 1l to assist in retaining said ends in position after they have been set up. Said hooks 23 also engage staples 25 on the exterior of the said lower cross bars or strips, when the crate is in folded position.

The operation of my invention will be obvious from the above description and need A not be further eXplained'eXcept to say that when the crate is used as an egg crate, the

Vusual paper egg retainers are placed in the its lower edge to said side-bars, the relative proportions of the end-bars, ends and partition being such that when folded down both ends will rest upon said center partition, and said side sections will rest upon said ends; and a suitable top for the crate.

2. An improved folding crate comprising a bottom, lower end bars resting on said bottom, side bars resting on said bottom, upper and lower folding side sections hinged together at their inner edges, hinges connecting the lower side sections to said side bars, a central partition hinged at its lower edge to said side-bars, to fold down upon said bottom, ends having their lower edges hinged to said cross bars to fold upon and be held up by said partition when the latter is down, a top hinged at one edge and carrying upon its under side projections which are adapted to engage and retain said ends in an upright condition whenV the crate is set up, upper cross bars to which the said top is hinged and suitable sliding bolts for engaging apertures formed in said upper cross bars to lock said top in a closed position.

' In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MRS. MINNIE ALBERTA tous.

Witnesses J. B. POWELL, DAVID H. LIVINGSTON. Y

Gopies of this patent may be obtained 'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

